Display sign



f.Ma 2 9,192s. 71,7

w. QPROUTY DISPLAY SIGN Filed June 7. 1927 ATTORNEY.

INVENTOR. v

- among characters,

" is to Patented May 29, 1928.-

"um'rao' STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIS O. PROUT'Y, OI HERMOSA BEACH, CALIFORNIA.

DISPLAY SIGN.

Application filed June 7,

My invention relates to illuminated display signs of the type in which the illuminating means is a tubular lighting element and conforms to the shape of the design or the latter generall being in relief or of contrasting color or lioth- In such signs the form of the design or characters is shown by the direct li ht from the tubular lighting element and a so by the light incident upon and reflected from the relief or colored design or characters in front of which the tubular lighting element is mounted. It is highly desirable that signs of this character be as pleasing in appearance and as attractive by daylight as in darkness. At night the direct light from the lamps and the reflected light from the underlying design contrast so intensely with the surrounding darkness as to obscure and render invisible the structural details of the sign, with the result that the appearance of the brilliantly illuminated design is not impared b any of the structural details. In daylight, owever, all of the structure of the sign is visible even with the lamps glowing, and for this reason signs of this type are not as attractive by daylight as ordinary unilluminated signs.

One of the objects of my invention is to make a sign of this type that will be as attractive by daylight as a sign especially designed for daylight illumination or other, illumination from a source external to the sign itself, that is, to make a sign that will be equally attractive when self-illuminated and when illuminated by daylight or other light falling on it from a source outside of the sign. A further object of my inventlon provide maximum reflection of light from the raised or colored design behind the tubular lamp, to make the raised or colored design. of a material to which dust and for- Glgn matter will not readily adhere and which will be waterand weather-proof and in itself provide the necessary insulation for the tubular lamps. Tubular neon lamps are largely used for the purpose above men tioned. My invention is adapted for use with such neon lamps as well as with other means of illumination such as tubular fila-' ment lamps or Geissler tubes, or any source of illumination that may be arranged in a lineal form. V

In the drawings 1 Figure 1. is an elevation view of a si constructed (according to my invention, t e

\ terminals 9,

HEISSUED element being a tubular neon 1927. Serial No. 197,103.

iilluminating lamp.

Figure 2 is a perspective view partly in action of one of the letters forming part of the'sign shown in Figure 1.

Figure3 is a perspective of a sign unit consisting of a base havin an illuminated character thereon designed for assemblage with other characters. to form a complete s1gn.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view of part of one of the characters showing a modification of the means for supporting the lamp.

Figure 5 is a section on the line 55 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a cross-section of another modified form of letter of other character or design element. 1

Figure 7 is a cross-section of another modification of the character or design element.

Figure 8.is a cross-section of another form V of character or design element.

Referring first to Figure 1 of the drawings, each f the letters is formed of glazed ceramic material, one of the letters being separately shown in Figure 2 where the ceramic body of the letters is shown at 1 and the glaze at 2. A groove 3 conforming in outline to the shape of the letter and following the central line of the exposed surface of the letter'serves as a seat for the neon tube 4. The tube 4 is preferably fastened to the letter and to the underlying base 5, which may also be of ceramic material, by means of' a wire holder 6 which extends over the tube 4 and through perforations in the letter and base. The letter may be secured to the base by cement or other suitable means or may be integrally formed therewith. At 7 and 8 I have indicated sleeves through which the terminals of the tubular illuminating clement extend to the back of the sign.

The structure 'shown in Figure 3 is similar to that shown in Figures 1 and 2 except that the single c aracter there shown, the letter A, is constructed as a separate unit, the section of the tubular illuminating element for that letter being complete with its 10 extending to the back of the section 11 of the base which is made integral with or permanently fixed to the part forming the letter A.

The structure shown in Figures 4 and. 5 differs from that shown in Figures 1 to 3 in having the tubular lighting element 4' mounted on brackets 12 which are preferably formed as integral parts of the letter or other character on which the lighting element is fixed. The brackets 12 project outwardly from the body of the character to space the tubular lightingelement at a sufficient distance-from the exposed surface of the character to permit the light to fall directly upon and to be. reflected therefrom. With the lighting element mounted as in Figures 1 to 3 dependence is placed largel upon diffusion of the light edgewise throug the glaze as well as by incidence upon the surface of the glaze to illuminate the exposed surface of the letter.

In Figure 6 I have shown the upper surface of the letter concave with the tubular lighting element extending along the deepest part of the concavity, thereby permitting the rays of light from the tube to fall directly upon the exposed concave surface of the letter.

In the form of the invention shown in Figure 7, which is a cross-section of one of the letters or characters, I have provided different means for spreading the light over the entire-exposed surface ofthe character to be illuminated. In this form 14 represents the ceramic body, preferably glazed, of the letter. 15, 15 are plates of glass which cover the entire exposed-face of the letter except the central space 16 which forms a recess conforming to the sha e of the letter and in which the tubular lig ting element 17 lies. The light from about the outer half of the circumference of the tube will radiate directly from the tube to the eye of the observer while the remainder of the light will enter the interior of the glass plates 15, 15 through the edges 18, 18. and will be confined therein by total reflection, except when incident upon the outer surfaces 19 of the glass plates, which surfaces may be made irregular by etching of the plates, or if desired the necessary irregular surface for the reflection of the rays to the outside may be provided upon the inner surface of the glass plates or otherwise disposed as in devices involving the same principle as heretofore constructed.

In Figure 8 I show the cross-section of a character having the lighting element mounted in a relatively deep channel having outwardly projecting side walls 20. In

this form the -larger part of the light falls upon and is reflected from the base 21 and side walls 20 of the ceramic character thus increasing the brilliancy of the ceramic character relative to that of the direct light from the tube.

Signs constructed according to my invention possess many advantages growing out of the properties of the ceramic material which is preferably used in their construction. Glass also possesses these roperties in a high degree but does not lend itself so readily to the processes of manufacture and to the construction of individual signs of special design. While in its broader aspect my invention includes the use of glass and similar materials which are vitreous throughout or which may be prepared with a vitreous surface or outer layer I have found ceramic material to be best suited to the urpose as it is an exceptionally good insu ator,.is easily molded or pressed to the form desired, can be glazed and given any desired color, and by reason of 1ts glazed surface presents a more brilliant a pearance by reflected light than substances eretofore used, is waterand weather-proof and presents a surface to which dust, soot, and foreign matter generally, does not readily adhere and from which such substances may be readily removed. Furthermore, as herein described, ceramic material can be constructed in simple forms for the support of the illuminating element and this, together with its glazed surface renders it possible to construct signs that present as pleasing an appearance by daylight as when illuminated at night.

I claim:

A display sign comprising a character in relief formed of glazed ceramic material,

said character having brackets integrally formed therewith and projecting from the exposed face thereof, and a tubular lighting element conforming to the shape of said character and mounted on said brackets, said lighting element lying substantially parallel to the exposed face of said character and at a distance therefrom to permit direct radiation of light from said element to all parts of the exposed face of said character.

In testimony whereof, I have subscribed my name.

WILLIS O. PROUTY. 

